Compare towns
Salisbury vs Danvers vs Dedham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salisbury | Danvers | Dedham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
28,098Highest |
25,237 |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 23% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | — | Dedham | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dedham High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.